Cellular
Network ReviewsAlphabetical
List of Reviews for All US Carriers, A-CD-RS-ZIncludes
all carriers in the US that operate their own
network, listed alphabetically.

AMERICA
MOVILEven though it
has millions of subscribers
in the US, America Movil may not be recognized by wireless users.
Their services are known by a number of names: TracFone,
Straight
Talk, Net10, Page Plus and several others. Most of these
companies offer a Prepaid wireless product but all of them utilize the
facilities of the other major cellular carriers as well has
some regional networks. Each America Movil "carrier" offers a
slightly different flavor of wireless service, some of which can be
very low cost. In Puerto Rico and outside the US, America Movil is a
major wireless player with their own network facilities and beneficial
relationships with other communications companies and manufacturers.
Get more information about their networks and products on the Mountain Prepaid
America Movil Page.

APPALACHIAN WIRELESSAppalachian has
good coverage along the
Kentucky
- Virginia border with a good selection of
CDMA phones, including several Smart phones and data cards. They have a
wide variety of a la carte
plans that are priced above average. They
charge extra for most Calling Features. Their
Prepaid plans are expensive for so few features and they have
misleading names: the "3G" plan is actually a "3GB" plan. It
caught our eye when they claimed a "5G" plan. Since you can only order
service on the phone or at the store we're sure there will be no
confusion.
They have upgraded much of their network
to 4G LTE.

ASTAC
WIRELESSThe
Arctic
Slope Telephone Association Cooperative
(ASTAC) provides
good GSM service across the
northern coast of Alaska. Plans are reasonable
and are available with Unlimited use based
on Statewide or National coverage. They offer 4G
coverage in
all areas and 2G phones won't work there.
Plan prices start at $15 and their Lifeline program is Free.
They
have a very large number of Data plans to tailor your cost to your
usage. As part of the
local telephone cooperative, customer service
is better than average and locals are very
loyal to this hometown wireless supplier. Bundle discounts
are available. They have
a surprisingly large selection of phones
including smartphones and the Apple iPhone. AT&T has invested
in
the ASTAC
network to provide better broadband coverage to their own customers who
are roaming in northern Alaska yielding benefits for local users as
well.

AT&T
As one of the Top 4 networks in the US,
most of us know much about AT&T. They are generally considered
second nationally in coverage and numbers of subscribers. In
some
areas AT&T has the best coverage, and in others they can be in
third place. With GSM
technology, AT&T roams more readily internationally,
but there are areas in the US with no GSM
coverage. AT&T's takeover of other cellular
networks has improved their service in some
areas already, including Alaska. AT&T
offers a large selection of GSM phones. AT&T gets
credit for
competing with products and price. Most
network improvements
are being made in
their new markets and are increasing data capacity
instead of adding cell sites in older areas.
They have added 4G and LTE coverage in
almost all markets and 5G Coverage is available in a few small areas. AT&T in some markets is among
those with the top data download speeds, but not
all. AT&T has acquired
wireless networks in Mexico and offer seamless, nationwide
wireless
service on both sides of the US/Mexico border
with big benefits for traveling AT&T
customers and users with family in both countries.
AT&T
offers Prepaid and also operates Cricket
Wireless.AT&T
Pros & ConsGet AT&T Phones
@ Less Than Retail!AT&T
Prepaid Review

BLUEGRASS
CELLULAR
Bluegrass Cellular is located in central Kentucky
and is operated by a combination of 5 rural
Kentucky telephone co-ops. They have a moderate
selection of CDMA phones and devices including smartphones. They have
very good coverage
across their own network, which is mostly 4G LTE, and they
offer a number of generous
plans. Nationwide
roaming is available. They also offer competitive Data plans for home
Internet and tablets. As part
of the local telephone cooperatives, they
have better than average customer service.
They often offer several customer appreciation
benefits.

BLUE WIRELESS
This small CDMA system serves several cities
across upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania.
They offer a choice of Unlimited plans starting
at only $18, each with several add-ons available
including Data. All plans are prepaid. They
offer a small number of low-end phones including a few smartphones.
Coverage
within
their own service areas is acceptable,
but driving between their separate, local
service areas could incur roaming charges. Voice roaming is available
nationwide but 4G - LTE Data roaming outside Blue's home area appears
to be limited to the Sprint network. Customer
Service and
their Data capabilities are unknown as they have yet to answer when we
call.

BRAVADO
WIRELESSBravado
Wireless, formerly Sprocket Wireless, is
a small CDMA carrier
serving
the east central part of Oklahoma just south
of Tulsa. They have narrowed down the number of plans they offer including Unlimited
for $40 per month. Bravado's Unlimited coverage
has some limits for use off their own network. They have a moderate selection of phones including most of
the iPhone line. Coverage
is adequate. They have added some 4G Data and
they offer "Lifeline" plans. They also offer wireless home Internet
access. Bravado is operated by
the Cross Telephone Company who also offers
cellular service in adjacent counties as Cross
Wireless.

BRISTOL
BAY CELLULAR
Bristol Bay covers the upper Aleutian Islands
of Alaska. Plans offer Unlimited minutes
but are pricey for just local coverage. They
have a small selection of CDMA phones which are unlocked. While Bristol
Bay sells some smartphones we do not know what broadband capabilities
are available, if any. Bristol
Bay customers are able to roam in Anchorage
and the mainland US. You need to submit an
application for service and a contract is required. We don't
know
if they allow roaming by other wireless customers.
Lifeline plans are available. In some areas
they provide the only telephone service.
Bristol Bay is operated by the local telephone
cooperative so they should be a bit easier
to deal with, but they have shared few details with us
outsiders.

CAROLINA WEST WIRELESS
Carolina West has good Local coverage
in their service area
of western North Carolina. They offer a variety
of plans that are priced about average. Data
plans are reasonably priced. They have a
good selection of CDMA phones including smartphones, the iPhone,
wireless home phones and air cards. Carolina
West is co-owned by several local telephone cooperatives and has
better than average customer service. They are also
involved
in their local communities. They have added 4G-LTE service to
most of their
coverage area and now also offer nationwide 4G-LTE roaming.

CELLULAR ONE(MTPCS)
This Cellular One is made up of parts of
the former Centennial Wireless in the South,
and parts of AT&T and the old Cellular One in
Texas. Cellular One completely shut down
their Montana and Wyoming network. They have very good GSM
coverage in rural
areas of Louisiana and Texas and in the Gulf of Mexico. They offer
all the digital goodies and have a moderate selection
of older phones including smartphones, but they do not offer the Apple
iPhone. Their plans are more expensive than average and, while they
will sell you "4G" capable phones, we cannot determine if they offer
any 4G coverage of their own. They have reasonable
plans for local wireless home phone and Internet access and they
support Lifeline
plans.Cellular One Coverage Maps

CELLULAR ONE OF NORTHEAST ARIZONA
Cellular One has very good coverage
in and around the Native American lands along
the northeast Arizona and northwest New Mexico
border with additional coverage in the extreme
southeastern corner of Utah. Parts of their network have been
upgraded to 4G - LTE and the rest operates at 3G. They have a
number of special, low-cost wireless programs.
They also support fixed wireless service
for homes away from wirelines. They offer
a number of reasonable plans with various levels of Data add-ons. They
have a good
selection of phone models including Smart
phones and older iPhones. Their prepaid plans are only available
with a few phone models but there are multiple Data and Messaging
add-ons. They have
a few creative programs including "Free
Phone for Life" and they support Lifeline plans.

CELLCOM
Cellcom provides excellent coverage in Wisconsin
and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Their plans are complicated
and overpriced. They
offer
a long list of sophisticated CDMA phones
including smartphones, the iPhone and home
phone devices. They have upgraded most, if not all, of
their network to 4G - LTE. They also offer a good selection
of their phones for Prepaid accounts. Their
prepaid charges are fairly high but include
Nationwide Unlimited calls and reasonable Data add-ons. Their
Lifeline Plans are priced way above average, but they can include Data,
and their Tribal
Lifeline Plan includes many more minutes
and features at a slightly lower price. Cellcom has local stores and
has a reputation for slightly higher customer service.

CHARITON
VALLEY WIRELESS
Chariton serves the north central part of
Missouri. They offer Local, Regional, National,
Unlimited and Lifeline plans. Most plans
are reasonable, especially since most features
are Unlimited. Their Prepaid plans are expensive, unless you use data,
and their Lifeline plans are overpriced.
They have 4G LTE coverage available on their own network as
well
as roaming where 4G is
available, mostly on Verizon Wireless. Since they are part of
the local
telephone cooperative we expect customer
service to be better than average if you can find the right
person. They have a good
selection of CDMA wireless devices including smartphones,
iPhones, air cards and wireless home phones. Bundle discounts depend on
where you are located.

CHAT MOBILITYOffering service
in southwest Iowa, Chat
Mobility offers generous plans with everything
included, however, adding Data to their plans makes them somewhat
overpriced. They have a moderate
selection of CDMA phones including smartphones, iPhones and air cards.
Coverage is adequate and they claim all 4G-LTE coverage. Off-network
roaming is seamless and is included in their regular plans. They offer
"Lifeline"
service (based on support programs) but they
are expensive, their Prepaid plans are reasonable.

CHOICE WIRELESSChoice
serves
rural and small-town
customers
in 9 western US states. They offer mostly National
"Unlimited" plans at a fixed price,
starting at $20 a month, $30 with some data included. They use CDMA
phones,
they have excellent coverage, and their plans have a
simplified
structure that includes a certain amount of US roaming minutes.
They have a moderate number of phone models
including smartphones and they allow you
to bring your own phone from another CDMA
carrier. All plans are prepaid so there are no contracts, and
they
offer monthly, pay-as-you-go and
pay-per-day plans, and
an Unlimited Data plan. Most areas support 3G broadband
and 4G-LTE in the Navajo Nation. They
offer wireless Internet devices which could
give you the fastest broadband service available
in a rural area. Choice supports Free or low-cost LifeLine
service.
Choice Wireless operates their own network so when you are in your
"home" area, you are not using another company's network. There is no
relationship between this Choice Wireless and the
Choice Wireless in northern Texas.

CLARO
PUERTO RICOClaro has very
good coverage across most of the island.
The network is owned by America
Movil
and is operated like other America Movil networks in Latin America and
not like their
prepaid-only services offered in mainland
US. Their expanded GSM network operates mostly with 4G
LTE coverage. They have a large selection of phones and also offer
several other communications services. We have no reports about
customer
service, but the owner is a large Latin America-based
wireless company so they have a number of
advantages over the others. Claro does not
offer an English language web site.

COMMNET WIRELESS
Commnet has been building cell sites in locations
that have been overlooked by other carriers.
Their parent company, ATN International also
owns a few other small wireless companies
including Choice
Wireless and Viya Mobile. Commnet's current
business relies on roaming
by other wireless carriers' customers. Some
carriers allow roaming on Commnet's sites
while others restrict Commnet roaming. So
if the closest, or only, cell site near you
is owned by Commnet, you need to sign up
with a carrier that uses, or allows roaming
on, Commnet. They are also known by other
names, and their sites offer a combination
of CDMA and GSM technology. Since they do not offer retail
service directly
to customers we do not rate Commnet although
their coverage is very good in most areas
where they do offer service. In several states
the Commnet network is available as Choice
Wireless.Commnet
Coverage Maps

COPPER VALLEY WIRELESSCopper Valley
Wireless is part of the
Copper Valley Telecom based in Valdez. They provide good
local
coverage in most of the larger inhabited areas of the
state. They
have reasonable
price plans with statewide and mainland US
roaming included but they get very expensive when Data is added. They
have a good selection
of CDMA phones
and they offer fixed wireless service and
broadband coverage. As part of the local
telecommunications co-op, service is above
average and bundle discounts are available.
Copper Valley has
upgraded most of its network to 4G - LTE.

CORDOVA
WIRELESSCordova is part
of the
Cordova Telephone
Cooperative along the coast of Alaska, south
of Valdez. They have a good selection of
GSM phones including smartphones, feature phones and iPhones.
They
have a large number of plans, some reasonably-priced until you
choose Unlimited or add any Data, then they're
overpriced. They
serve some areas where there isn't any other telephone service
available. They
offer discount bundles with their other communications
services including free cell phone service
when tied to your home land line. They are
upgrading their network to 4G LTE coverage
which will be available for both mobile and
fixed wireless services. LifeLine accounts
are available for $1 per month with an activation
fee of $35.

CROSS WIRELESSCross Wireless is a
small CDMA carrier, part of the Cross Telephone
Company of eastern Oklahoma. They have Regional
and National plans which are a little cheaper
than average. They offer a large variety
of Unlimited plans including Nationwide Data. They are adding 4G
Data but they
only offer a small number of phones.
As part of the local telephone company we expected their
customer service to be above average, but we can't get them to answer
the phone and don't offer bundles with their other
communications
services. We have no coverage reports for
their network. They also offer wireless broadband
access for home as well as Lifeline plans
with several add-on features available. Cross
also offers cellular service as Bravado
Wireless in areas east of Tulsa.

C
SPIRE WIRELESS
C Spire has very good coverage on their own network in Mississippi,
greater Memphis, parts of Alabama and the
Florida panhandle. They have several plans, all of which include
Unlimited Talk & Text and nationwide roaming. Some plans
are very reasonable for the amount of data they
include and some of their features are very
creative. Users report very good coverage
and like the choice of plans. They offer
a good selection of CDMA phones including
the iPhone, and have good customer service. C Spire claims
their 4G - LTE network is the fastest available, even faster
than home Internet services. They also offer
a unique batch of consumer-oriented benefits
that help integrate wireless devices, plans
and features for both customers and non-customers.
They offer LifeLine plans. C Spire is among the Top 10 US
wireless
companies which gives them the ability to offer a large number of
services and devices.

CTC
WIRELESSCTC Wireless is
the cellular service provided
by the Cambridge
Telephone Company
of Cambridge, Idaho. CTC offers their own
wireless service in Cambridge and surrounding towns, but in places like
Boise, where
they offer wireline service, they offer wireless
only as a re-seller of Verizon Wireless.
CTC offers a moderate selection of plans
on their own network starting at $10. Most plans are overpriced
although the Unlimited plans are reasonable.
They offer a small selection of phones
including a couple of smartphones with inventory
changing regularly. Customer service is adequate and Lifeline plans are
available. They
claim 3G coverage in most areas of their own network. Bundles
are not available with their other communications services.
CTC's
wireless services are no longer shown on their web site.
Until
then, you'll need to visit their Cambridge store in person or call
208-257-3314.

CUSTER
TELEPHONE WIRELESS
Custer Wireless is the wireless network of the Custer Telephone
Cooperative in central Idaho. Their CDMA network provides good coverage
in and around their wireline
service area, mostly
in the Salmon River valley.
Most of this area is not covered by other
carriers. Most of their
network has been upgraded to 4G. Plans are reasonably priced.
Roaming is available on nearby local wireless networks
and Verizon
Wireless.
They have
a small selection of phones including smartphones. Customer service
is very good. They offer other communications products but do not offer
any bundle discounts with wireless.